Hundreds of people forced to leave the North because of IRA threats are to be allowed home for Christmas, according to a report in yesterday's Irish News. The newspaper claimed that alleged petty criminals who fled after intimidation would be allowed back to spend the holiday with their families.
But those who had to leave because the IRA suspected they were passing information to the security forces would still be under sentence of death if they decided to return home. However, the anti-paramilitary group Families Against Intimidation and Terror said it was sceptical about the veracity of the claims.
The group's spokesman, Mr Vincent McKenna, said he believed no threats had been lifted. He had heard rumours of an amnesty but did not think they were true.
